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Member Profile

Larry Craig

Board Member

Larry Craig

Board Member

Biography

Larry Craig served as a Member of Congress from 1981 to 2009. Born in Council, Idaho in 1945, Craig served in the Idaho National Guard from 1970-1972. He began his political career by serving as a Republican Idaho State Senator beginning in 1974. After serving three terms in the state senate, Craig was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1980. He then went on to serve ten years in the House and 18 years in the Senate. Craig’s political career was derailed when his 2007 arrest for lewd conduct in an airport bathroom became national news. He initially said he would resign, but later decided to serve out the remainder of his term. While serving in the Senate, Craig was one of the gun lobby’s most important allies, shepherding numerous pieces of NRA-backed legislation into law. In 2006, he received the NRA Institute for Legislative Action’s highest honor. Chris Cox, the executive director of NRA-ILA, called Craig an “eloquent and fearless champion of the Second Amendment.”


All Statements (16 total)

Statements by Category (16 total)

  • Political Corruption
    On September 30, 2014 The Washington Post reported that a federal judge rejected Craig’s argument that he had legally spent campaign funds and ordered him to “pay the U.S. Treasury $242,000 for improperly using campaign funds to pay for his legal defense.”  Craig had used campaign money to defend himself after being charged with soliciting sexual acts.  The charges stemmed from a 2007 sex sting, in which the FBI accused Craig of soliciting sex in a Minneapolis International Airport bathroom.

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Sexual Scandals
    On September 30, 2014 The Washington Post reported that a federal judge rejected Craig’s argument that he had legally spent campaign funds and ordered him to “pay the U.S. Treasury $242,000 for improperly using campaign funds to pay for his legal defense.”  Craig had used campaign money to defend himself after being charged with soliciting sexual acts.  The charges stemmed from a 2007 sex sting, in which the FBI accused Craig of soliciting sex in a Minneapolis International Airport bathroom.

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Conspiracy Theory

    On August 3, 2012, the Associated Press reported that Craig, who is being sued by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) for allegedly misusing more than $200,000 in campaign funds for his legal defense following his 2007 arrest in a bathroom sex sting, seeks to fend off the charges by arguing that the incident was part of his official Senate business. Craig asserts that he was travelling between Idaho and the nation's capital for work and cites a Senate rule which include all charges for meals, lodging, hotel fans, cleaning, pressing of clothing—and bathrooms—as reimbursable per diem expenses. "Not only was the trip itself constitutionally required, but Senate rules sanction reimbursement for any cost relating to a senator's use of a bathroom while on official travel," wrote Craig’s lawyer in documents filed on August 2, 2012.

    Sources [1] [2] [3] [4]

  • Criminal Activity

    On August 3, 2012, the Associated Press reported that Craig, who is being sued by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) for allegedly misusing more than $200,000 in campaign funds for his legal defense following his 2007 arrest in a bathroom sex sting, seeks to fend off the charges by arguing that the incident was part of his official Senate business. Craig asserts that he was travelling between Idaho and the nation's capital for work and cites a Senate rule which include all charges for meals, lodging, hotel fans, cleaning, pressing of clothing—and bathrooms—as reimbursable per diem expenses. "Not only was the trip itself constitutionally required, but Senate rules sanction reimbursement for any cost relating to a senator's use of a bathroom while on official travel," wrote Craig’s lawyer in documents filed on August 2, 2012.

    Sources [1] [2] [3] [4]

  • Political Corruption

    On August 3, 2012, the Associated Press reported that Craig, who is being sued by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) for allegedly misusing more than $200,000 in campaign funds for his legal defense following his 2007 arrest in a bathroom sex sting, seeks to fend off the charges by arguing that the incident was part of his official Senate business. Craig asserts that he was travelling between Idaho and the nation's capital for work and cites a Senate rule which include all charges for meals, lodging, hotel fans, cleaning, pressing of clothing—and bathrooms—as reimbursable per diem expenses. "Not only was the trip itself constitutionally required, but Senate rules sanction reimbursement for any cost relating to a senator's use of a bathroom while on official travel," wrote Craig’s lawyer in documents filed on August 2, 2012.

    Sources [1] [2] [3] [4]

  • Republican Party (GOP)

    On August 3, 2012, the Associated Press reported that Craig, who is being sued by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) for allegedly misusing more than $200,000 in campaign funds for his legal defense following his 2007 arrest in a bathroom sex sting, seeks to fend off the charges by arguing that the incident was part of his official Senate business. Craig asserts that he was travelling between Idaho and the nation's capital for work and cites a Senate rule which include all charges for meals, lodging, hotel fans, cleaning, pressing of clothing—and bathrooms—as reimbursable per diem expenses. "Not only was the trip itself constitutionally required, but Senate rules sanction reimbursement for any cost relating to a senator's use of a bathroom while on official travel," wrote Craig’s lawyer in documents filed on August 2, 2012.

    Sources [1] [2] [3] [4]

  • Criminal Activity

    On June 11, 2012, Craig was sued by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) for allegedly misusing more than $200,000 in campaign funds for his legal defense following his 2007 arrest in a bathroom sex sting. Craig had been accused of soliciting sex in a bathroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The FEC claims that Craig for U.S. Senate, the U.S. senator’s campaign account, paid at least $139,952 to the law firm Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan in Washington, D.C., and $77,032 to Kelly & Jacobson in Minnesota for legal services related to his guilty plea. The FEC stated in their complaint that Craig should be required to repay the misused funds and a fine of up to $6,500.

    Sources [1] [2] [3]

  • Political Corruption

    On June 11, 2012, Craig was sued by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) for allegedly misusing more than $200,000 in campaign funds for his legal defense following his 2007 arrest in a bathroom sex sting. Craig had been accused of soliciting sex in a bathroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The FEC claims that Craig for U.S. Senate, the U.S. senator’s campaign account, paid at least $139,952 to the law firm Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan in Washington, D.C., and $77,032 to Kelly & Jacobson in Minnesota for legal services related to his guilty plea. The FEC stated in their complaint that Craig should be required to repay the misused funds and a fine of up to $6,500.

    Sources [1] [2] [3]

  • Republican Party (GOP)

    On June 11, 2012, Craig was sued by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) for allegedly misusing more than $200,000 in campaign funds for his legal defense following his 2007 arrest in a bathroom sex sting. Craig had been accused of soliciting sex in a bathroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The FEC claims that Craig for U.S. Senate, the U.S. senator’s campaign account, paid at least $139,952 to the law firm Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan in Washington, D.C., and $77,032 to Kelly & Jacobson in Minnesota for legal services related to his guilty plea. The FEC stated in their complaint that Craig should be required to repay the misused funds and a fine of up to $6,500.

    Sources [1] [2] [3]

  • Lobbying Activity

    In 2011, Craig lobbied Congress to remove the gray wolf from protection under the Endangered Species Act. The former U.S. Senator’s client, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, wanted the gray wolf de-listed because of concern that a recovered wolf population would eat big game animals prized by hunters. Once common in throughout North America, the gray wolf is now extinct in all but a few locations in the United States.

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Lobbying Activity

    In 2009, New West Strategies, a lobbying firm co-founded by Craig, lobbied the federal government on behalf of two Idaho counties who wanted a federal prison to be constructed within their borders. Representatives of the counties cancelled the $5,000-per-month lobbying contract after Craig’s firm failed to secure funding in the federal budget for the project.

    Sources [1]

  • Other Statements

    In an August 2007 letter to a constituent who asked about the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy concerning homosexuality, Craig wrote, “It is unacceptable to risk the lives of American soldiers and sailors merely to accommodate the sexual lifestyles of certain individuals.”

    Sources [1]

  • Criminal Activity

    In June 2007, Craig, a married man, was arrested in a Minneapolis airport bathroom and charged with lewd conduct after an undercover male police officer accused him of making sexual advances. Craig later pled guilty to disorderly conduct. The Idaho Statesman published a comprehensive investigative report alleging that Craig engaged in sex acts with men for decades. A number of men gave accounts of sexual encounters with Craig.

    Sources [1]

  • Sexual Scandals

    In June 2007, Craig, a married man, was arrested in a Minneapolis airport bathroom and charged with lewd conduct after an undercover male police officer accused him of making sexual advances. Craig later pled guilty to disorderly conduct. The Idaho Statesman published a comprehensive investigative report alleging that Craig engaged in sex acts with men for decades. A number of men gave accounts of sexual encounters with Craig.

    Sources [1]

  • Other Statements

    In a video appearance at a 2007 “Friends of the NRA” dinner, Craig suggested that it was plausible that total firearm confiscation could occur in the United States and said, “When the government is the sole owner of firearms, you and I then become the subjects of a government, or the victims of a government, and not the free citizen that this country has been built on.”

    Sources [1]

  • Other Statements

    Sources [1]

  • Other Statements

    In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Craig was hesitant to provide federal funds to aid the recovery. Preferring instead that the damaged areas of New Orleans be abandoned, he said, “Fraud is in the culture of Iraqis. I believe that is true in the state of Louisiana as well.” Craig suggested that the Lower Ninth Ward be turned “back to what it was, a wetland.

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Other Statements

    In 2004, the Human Rights Campaign Congressional Scorecard awarded Craig a score of 0 out of a possible 100 for his positions on gay rights. His low score stemmed from his vote for a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would have limited marriage to opposite sex partners and a vote against the “Local Law Enforcement Act,” which provides federal assistance in the prosecution of hate crimes.

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Sexual Scandals

    In a 1999 appearance on Meet the Press, Craig criticized then-President Bill Clinton for having an extramarital affair, calling Clinton “a nasty, bad, naughty boy”.

    Sources [1]

  • Other Statements

    Craig voted “Yes” to implement the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy in 1993, which allowed for the dismissal of military service members who were discovered to be gay.

    Sources [1] [2]

  • Sexual Scandals

    Craig urged his sexual partners to keep quiet by using threats, reportedly telling one man in 1986, “I can buy and sell your ass a thousand times over. You were never here.

    Sources [1]

  • Sexual Scandals

    In 1982 a former male Congressional page alleged that Members of Congress had encouraged pages to engage in sexual activity and drug and alcohol use. While no Members of Congress were specifically named, then-Representative Craig issued a preemptive statement denying involvement.

    Sources [1]

  • Criminal Activity
    On March 4, 2016, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that Craig improperly used campaign funds to pay for his legal defense after his arrest in an airport bathroom sex sting. The ruling upheld a lower court decision that ordered Craig to reimburse the government $197,535 and pay a civil penalty of $45,000 for violating federal election laws. Craig was arrested in 2007 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after an undercover police officer said the lawmaker tapped his foot to signal under the bathroom stall that he wanted to have sex.

    Sources [1]

  • Political Corruption
    On March 4, 2016, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that Craig improperly used campaign funds to pay for his legal defense after his arrest in an airport bathroom sex sting. The ruling upheld a lower court decision that ordered Craig to reimburse the government $197,535 and pay a civil penalty of $45,000 for violating federal election laws. Craig was arrested in 2007 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after an undercover police officer said the lawmaker tapped his foot to signal under the bathroom stall that he wanted to have sex.

    Sources [1]

  • Republican Party (GOP)
    On March 4, 2016, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that Craig improperly used campaign funds to pay for his legal defense after his arrest in an airport bathroom sex sting. The ruling upheld a lower court decision that ordered Craig to reimburse the government $197,535 and pay a civil penalty of $45,000 for violating federal election laws. Craig was arrested in 2007 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after an undercover police officer said the lawmaker tapped his foot to signal under the bathroom stall that he wanted to have sex.

    Sources [1]

  • Sexual Scandals
    On March 4, 2016, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that Craig improperly used campaign funds to pay for his legal defense after his arrest in an airport bathroom sex sting. The ruling upheld a lower court decision that ordered Craig to reimburse the government $197,535 and pay a civil penalty of $45,000 for violating federal election laws. Craig was arrested in 2007 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after an undercover police officer said the lawmaker tapped his foot to signal under the bathroom stall that he wanted to have sex.

    Sources [1]